WINDHOEK – Johannes Khoaseb (48), who appeared in a pre-trial conference before Judge President Petrus Damaseb caused a stir in the Windhoek High Court when he demanded a new prosecutor.
Khaoseb told the Judge President that he would prefer a black prosecutor since he thinks the white prosecutor, Antonia Verhoef, is deliberately delaying his case. The Judge President was not amused by that and in no uncertain terms told Khoaseb to never repeat such dribble in his court or any court in Namibia. Khoaseb also at first had an issue with his Legal Aid appointed lawyer, Willem Visser, who incidentally is also white, but later changed his mind and told the Judge President that he has no problem with Visser, but with Verhoef only. Visser looked quite perplexed when Khoaseb made his assertions.
The Judge President told Khoaseb that he cannot choose who the State’s representative should be, but that he only has the option to choose his own lawyer. Khoaseb and his co-accused Constans Swartbooi, aged 39 will finally get their chance in court when their trial starts on May 16. On that date they will plead before Judge Alfred Siboleka on charges of murder, attempted murder and alternatively contravening the Arms and Ammunitions Act. Khoaseb and Swartbooi are suspects in a murder and robbery case. Co-accused, 29-year-old Paulus Mwengo is still at large after he escaped from police custody in Karibib during mid-2010. Mwengo, Khoaseb and Swartbooi are accused of an attack on 89-year old Charlotte Jooste and her employee, Selma Kavari, during an armed robbery at the Farm Riksburg in the Karibib District on November 7, 2009. Jooste, who was assaulted during the robbery, later succumbed to her injuries in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek.
It is further alleged the three stole from Jooste and Kavari. According to the charge sheet, the accused entered the farm Riksburg near Karibib armed with a loaded rifle, a loaded pistol and knives. It is stated that at or near the main residence they encountered Kavari and the deceased and assaulted them demanding the keys to the safe. They then ransacked the residence stealing several items. The State alleges all three suspects acted with a common purpose at all times.
By Roland Routh